Downin named March 2012 Employee of the Month at WIU

March 1, 2012

MACOMB, IL – Sheila Downin, a Western Illinois University human resource officer, has been named the March Civil Service Employee of the Month.

According to Downin's nominators, she "exhibits the type of work ethic that deserves recognition."

"She definitely demonstrates a plethora of remarkable qualities that contribute to a very pleasant working environment for our office, as well as the campus community as a whole," her nominators said. "She has been an essential part, through her support of developing successful trainee applicants and through her voluntary assistance, to the pre-screening applicant assessment process. This process is vitally important for the success of the program; this is not part of her job description, but rather something that she has assisted with for years outside of her normal work duties."

Downin is also credited with helping organize materials within the office to send to active-duty soldiers on a regular basis and she serves on the Civil Service Scholarship Committee.

Downin was hired at WIU as a Secretary II in January 1990 she moved to the Financial Aid Office in the same capacity. In March, she moved to the communications department as a Secretary II extra help. In October 1990, she moved back to the Financial Aid Office as a Clerk II extra help and then in July 1990, she transitioned to a Secretary II position.

Since then Downin has served in secretarial capacities in the University Union Bookstore and Financial Aid Office, before being promoted to a Human Resource Assistant II in February 2000. In August 2004, Downin became a Human Resource Representative and in June 2007 she was promoted to her current job as a Human Resource Officer.

Western faculty, staff and administrators, as well as community members, wishing to nominate a civil service employee for this monthly recognition should contact Civil Service Employees Council (CSEC) Public Relations Representative Wendi Mattson at WK-Mattson@wiu.edu.